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August 19, 2013

SEC Names Choi, Aronow to Key Posts

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Trading Practices and Errors
When SEC-registered investment advisors conduct annual audits of firm policies and procedures, they should pay close attention to trading practices. Though usually not required to, state-registered advisors should look at their trading practices and revise policies that do not fully protect clients.

Proxy Voting
RIAs are not required to vote proxies on behalf of their clients. However, when an RIA does assume responsibility for voting proxies, the firm’s policies and procedures should help to ensure that votes are cast in the best interest of clients.

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently announced two new hires: Eun Ah Choi has been named managing executive of the Division of Investment Management and Geoffrey Aronow has been named chief counsel and senior policy advisor in the Office of International Affairs.

The new positions for Choi and Aronow come as the agency also welcomes two new commissioners, Kara Stein and Michael Piwowar. Both were sworn in on Aug. 9.

Choi, who will assume her new role on Monday, will serve as the division’s point person on a wide range of business, operational and administrative functions, including risk and examinations, business process improvement, human capital management, strategic planning, and industry and financial analyses.

Choi fills the role previously held by Diane Blizzard, who last April became associate director for regulatory policy and investment advisor regulation in the Division of Investment Management.

Norm Champ, director of the Investment Management division, said in a statement that Choi brings “a wealth of legal, analytical and management experience,” and that she would be “a vital asset” in the division’s IM Moving Ahead improvement project.

Choi joins the SEC from the law firm Hogan Lovells US in Washington, DC, where she worked as a partner in the firm’s corporate department and represented publicly and privately held companies, boards of directors and investment banks.

"Her transactional and counseling background is uniquely complemented by her significant experience managing and coordinating organization-wide efforts to develop, improve and streamline operational, technological and legal procedures, controls and standards," the SEC said in a statement.

Choi graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif.

Meanwhile, Aronow will provide legal counsel to the director of the office and play a central role in advising and formulating SEC policy in the international arena. SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White said in a statement that as “the international regulatory arena continues to grow, the related legal and policy issues will become an increasingly critical part of the Commission’s work.”

Aronow will also coordinate staff input on international issues related to rulemakings and interpretive guidance. Along with others in the office, he will represent the SEC before international organizations and committees as they relate to international legal issues.

Aronow, White said, “brings significant talent and experience to this new position, and I am pleased that he has agreed to take on this role.” Aronow, who has been senior counsel to White, previously was the SEC’s general counsel under former Chairwoman Elisse Walter.

Robert Fisher, director of the SEC’s Office of International Affairs, added in the same statement that Aronow “joins OIA at a time when the international issues the commission faces continue to increase in significance and complexity. His keen intellect, dedication to investors, and expertise in the international securities law realm make him a welcome addition to the leadership team in OIA.”